Which volcano in southern Chile erupted in 2008, destroying the town of Chaitén?

The volcano in southern Chile that erupted in 2008 and destroyed much of Chaitén was Chaitén Volcano.

The eruption began on May 1, 2008, near the town of Chaitén in Chile’s Los Lagos Region. Early activity included earthquakes and ash emissions, prompting the Chilean government to begin evacuating the town, whose population was about 4,200. The main phase of the evacuation was completed by May 3.

Activity intensified sharply on May 6. Pyroclastic flows and explosive activity sent the eruption column to an estimated height of roughly 30,000 metres. Ash spread across parts of southern Chile and Argentina, while rain and volcanic debris later produced lahars and flooding.

The Chaitén River was forced into a new channel, and mud and volcanic deposits damaged or destroyed large parts of the town. The eruption was scientifically notable because it involved rhyolitic magma, an explosive magma type whose major eruptions are comparatively rare. Chaitén is the volcano’s name; the nearby town shares it.